BOSTON — Is there no stopping Peabody’s boys and girls track teams this year?
Based on the way they are trending as they head into tournament season, it’s hard to bet against either team.
The Tanners added another chapter to the Peabody High track legacy on Super Bowl Sunday. After winning the Northeastern Conference dual-meet title earlier in the week, both teams completed a conference sweep, winning the NEC Indoor Track and Field Championship Meet at the Reggie Lewis Track and Athletic Center.
Despite winning just five individual events, the boys team dominated the field with 132 points, well ahead of runnerup Beverly (69 points) and Marblehead (68.66).
The girls team had a closer call, coming out on top with 80 points, just three ahead of runnerup Marblehead.
Boys head coach Fernando Braz said the key was “balance and depth,” along with a little elbow grease.
“The preparation leading up to the meet by athletes and coaches and the meet day focus on details resulted in outstanding performances and a team win,” Braz said.
Riley Michaud was the Tanners’ top performer. He won the high jump (6-00) and finished second in the long jump with a PR of 20-11.5.
Alex Jackson, fresh off a strong weight throw showing at the prestigious Millrose Games, won the shot put with a meet-record 61-07.05. Evan Bedard won the long jump with a meet-record leap of 22-03 and also finished third in the 55 dash with a PR 6.71. Peyton Smith set a school record in the 55 hurdles (7.76) and qualified for nationals. Declan Smith won the 1,000 meters (2:36.24) and also placed second in the high jump (SR 5-10).
Michaud, Jackson, Bedard, Peyton Smith, and Declan Smith earned NEC All-Conference honors.
Lauren Foley and Alessandra Forgione led the way for the Lady Tanners. Foley won the 600 with a PR 1:40.68 and also anchored the first-place 4×400 relay team of Avery Marcus, Maya Sutton and Ava Champigny (4:21.22).
Forgione won the shot put (36-11.5). Makayla Kokonezis had three top-five finishes; she placed second in the high jump (5-02), fourth in the 55 hurdles (PR 9.3), and fifth in the long jump (16-03.5).
Jane Haight (3:18.44) and Marcus (3:20.27) placed second and third, respectively, in the 1,000. Ella Braz (5:30.45) and Emma Wardle (PR 6:24.35) finished second and eighth, respectively, in the mile.
Other top performers on the girls side included Madison Barrett, fifth in the 600 (SR 1:49.39); Kayley Bunn, sixth in the 55 hurdles (9:36); Ava Champigny (45.64) and Maya Sutton (45.69), sixth and seventh, respectively, in the 300; Victoria Vaz, sixth in the 2-mile (13:26.57); Madison Holleron (28-09.75), Olivia Guarino (PR 28-09.75), and Ava Gonzalez (27-08), sixth, seventh, and ninth, respectively, in the shot put; Ava Barresi, ninth in the high jump (4-02), and Olivia DelValle, 10th in the 600 (PR 1:54.59).
The 4×800 relay team of Brooke Lomasney, Lily Furcal, Haight and Braz finished second (10:46.33) and the 4×200 relay team of Tamara Kenigisha, Gabrielle Meola, Brooke Martin, and Barrett finished seventh (1:59.33).
Top finishers in the boys meet included Mohammed Lhassouani, second in the 2,000 (PR 2:40.68); Areno Saint-Victor (46-07.5), Matthew Dresser (PR 42-03), and Jackson O’Brien (41-02), second, fourth, and sixth in the shot put; Juan Rivera, third in the long jump (20-07.5); Christ Jeune, fourth in the 55 hurdles (PR 8.53); Henry Sawyer, fifth in the 300 (37.24) and sixth in the 55 dash (6.88); Brian Stevens (SR 1:27.35) and Osama Mishal (PR 1:31.05), fourth and 10th, respectively, in the 600; Matt McCusker, sixth in the mile (4:49.63) and Michael Murphy (PR 37.86), Tyler Rappold (PR 37.98) and Omar Mishal (38.22), sixth, seventh and ninth in the 300.
Iago Pacheco (5-04) and Andrew Senfuma (5-04) tied for 10th in the high jump.
The team of Bedard, Sawyer, Rappold, and Peyton Smith (1:32.67) placed second in the 4×200 relay, while Olar Mishal, Stevens, Lhassouani, and Declan Smith placed second in the 4×400 relay (3:33.46). Osama Mishal, Jackson Guerriero, McCusker and Rivera placed third in the 4×800 relay (9:09.72).
